“Is there a back entrance to your complex?”
“No, just the main one.”
“Well, the accident happened right in front of your street, so it’s blocked off right now. It’ll take a little while before they can get the road cleared, so I won’t be able to get you home until then. Are you hungry? Do you wanna go grab some lunch while we wait?”
I looked out at where we were and silently cursed. The rain pounded the car so heavily that Ollie’s windshield wipers were working overtime and you could barely see anything ahead. Ugh, great. I was not looking forward to what I’d have to do next.
“How about you drive me up as close as you can and I can walk the rest of the way?”
“Uh, Reid?” Ollie pointed up at the car ceiling and we listened for a moment. “Pretty sure that’s hail beating my car to shit right now. So unless you want a concussion, I wouldn’t advise walking. Not to mention you’d have to pass the scene, and after the attack you had, I’m guessing you don’t want to do that.”
Shit, he was right. Okay, plan B. “My parents live in Bridgewood on Leigh Street. You can take me there.”
“You got it.”
He put the car in drive and eased back out onto the main road.
“It’s not that I can’t drive,” I said to break up the quiet, suddenly feeling like a teenager who had to get his parents to come pick him up and drop him off. “I just haven’t been able to bring myself to do it again yet.”
“That’s okay.” No judgment, no questions. Just “okay.” Still, I felt the need to explain myself so this guy didn’t think badly of me for whatever reason. But before I could do that, Ollie said, “You’ll do it when you’re ready.” He glanced over at me. “You’ve been through a lot, Reid. Give yourself a break.”
Give myself a break? That was something I wasn’t sure I could do.
Silence fell between us again, only this time it wasn’t awkward. I pointed out how to get to my parents’ house, and a few minutes later, he pulled into the driveway.
“You know,” he said, rubbing his chin again, “I actually don’t live far from here.”
“You don’t?”
“Nope. I’m on the other side of the lake off Wheeler Street.”
“You weren’t kidding. That is close.”
“Mhmm. So if you’re ever in the area, you should stop by. Since you like to walk”—he shrugged—“I do laps around the lake almost every day. You can join me if you want. We can talk. Not talk. Whatever.”
“You’re making that offer even though you’ve seen firsthand that I’m a mess?”
Ollie grinned. “Yeah, you’re kind of a mess.”
“Hey, you’re not supposed to agree.”
With a laugh, he held up his hand. “What I meant to say is we’re all a little fucked up. That’s not a deal breaker among friends.”
Friends…hell, maybe I could use a friend. And it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have one who seemed to keep paper bags around.
“Give me your number; maybe I’ll call you next time I come over this way,” I said.
He opened the glove compartment and took out a pen and a napkin, and it didn’t escape my notice the way his hands shook as he wrote down his number. Then again, he did have the air on high and was still sporting his wet clothes. I reached over and turned down the AC so he wouldn’t freeze to death.
When he handed me the paper, I shoved it in my wallet to keep it from getting drenched.
“Thanks again for the ride, Ollie. And for…well, all of it. You’re a good man to have around.”
“No problem at all. Take care, Reid.”
Take care, Reid… Those words brought on déjà vu as I stepped out of the car and made a run for the porch. I turned and waved before heading inside, and Ollie flashed his lights in goodbye.
There was something innately comforting about that guy, which was odd considering his dominating size. Maybe I could use someone like that in my life.